EP president Cheeky Watson told Eyewitness News on Thursday that the Kings are in talks with a further nine players, both local and foreign, and that while a South African player would be first choice, they have asked Saru if they could sign more than two foreigners if need be.

‘It’s a decision that has to be made as we go along, because we may just land up being in a position that we don’t have to sign any foreign player,’ Watson told Eyewitness News. ‘So it’s a situation that one will know in the next two weeks.’

The Kings will no doubt point to the Melbourne Rebels, who were granted special dispensation by the Australian Rugby Union to field 10 foreigners during their first Super Rugby season in 2011.